Introduction: Paddle-tail
swimbaits are awesome baits, period! Versatile and productive, I find myself
rigging one up for a huge number of fishing outings. Since they are available in
such a huge variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, I've been able to nab
everything from tarpon to spotted bass while throwing them. Joining the
ever-growing population of paddle-tail swimbaits is Lunkerhunt's Swim Bento,
which delivers a unique construction and promises tantalizing action.

Quality/Construction: A paddle-tailed
swimming version of the straight-tailed Bento Minnow, the Swim Bento sports a
very trim profile and plastic that's of modest firmness. The solid plastic body
boasts a glossy appearance and is built around a holographic insert that emits a
decent amount of flash that's easily visible from the exterior. The test baits
were all put together nicely with quality coloration and had impressive
appearances overall—especially for soft baits.

Quality Ratings for
Lunkerhunt
Swim Bento

Finish (1-5)

Detailing (1-5)

Hardware (1-5)

Craftsmanship (1-5)

Total

Possible

Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)

5

5

N/A

5

15

15

10

Here's a Swim Bento shown in the color “Sassy”

Performance:
Nobody will be disappointed with the way this bait swims. I fish the 4.5-inch
Swim Bento almost exclusively on my favorite Damiki D-Hold 3/0, 1/8-ounce
swimbait hook and find it to be a great match. On this setup the bait exhibits a
tighter, more nervous shimmy and swimming action than average, but nonetheless
looks awesome in the water and catches gobs of fish. On this rig it also falls
to the bottom with a pronounced action, so watch your line for bites as this
bait sinks!

The tail features a keel that provides reinforcement yet allows for plenty of
action at low speed

With the Swim
Bento rigged on a 3/0 hook with a smaller 1/16-ounce weight, it displays the
same tight swimming action when reeled, however with the lighter weight the
action is not that great on the fall.

The almost worm-like profile keeps the bait down and enables it to get through
cover easily

Durability-wise, Swim Bentos seem to be about average. The very first bass I
caught on one tore both eyes off and ripped the body, thus rendering the bait
useless. This worried me a bit, but I have since been able to get more average
lifespans out of the remaining baits.

The first Swim Bento I tied on had its head obliterated by a bass. Thankfully,
this seemed to not be the exception rather than the rule

Performance Ratings for
Lunkerhunt
Swim Bento

Castability (1-5)

Ease of Actuation(1-5)

Quality of Movement (1-5)

Position at Rest (1-5)

Durability (1-5)

Total

Possible

Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)

5

5

4

N/A

3

17

20

8.5

Though not on the same scale as the past autopsy performed by Zander and Cal on
an exotic Roman Made Mother bait, I sliced a Swim Bento open to get a better
peek at the holographic insert